Double heating device for coffee maker

ABSTRACT

A heating device for a coffee maker having a water tank and a coupled pipe is provided. The pipe includes a cold-water supply section, a first heating section, a first hot-water supply section, a second auxiliary heating section, and a second hot-water supply section having an outlet. The heating device comprises a first heating element wound around the first heating section and a second heating element wound around the second auxiliary heating section. Water flowed through the pipe is sequentially heated by the first and second heating elements. Thus, a temperature of water leaving the outlet can be kept at an acceptable high level.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to coffee makers and more particularly to an electric heating device having two heating elements for coffee maker for increasing a temperature of hot water leaving an outlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Heating device for coffee maker or water dispenser is well known. A conventional electric heating device 30 for coffee maker is shown in FIG. 1 in which a portion of a cold-water supply line 20 connected to the bottom of a water tank 10 is wound around by the heating device 30 so that water flowed through the cold-water supply line 20 can be heated. The heated water is then fed to a hot-water supply line 40 prior to leaving an outlet 50.

[0003] However, the prior art suffered from a disadvantage. For example, the hot-water supply line 40 may be relatively long so that temperature of the heated water leaving the outlet 50 may drop significantly because there is no insulation around the hot-water supply line 40 for keeping the temperature of water leaving the outlet 50 at almost the same as that measured at the start of the hot-water supply line 40. In other words, water is not so hot as expected. Thus improvement exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electric heating device for a coffee maker having a water tank and a water pipe coupled to the bottom of the water tank, the pipe including a cold-water supply section, a first heating section, a first hot-water supply section, a second auxiliary heating section, and a second hot-water supply section having an outlet. The heating device comprises a first heating element wound around the first heating section; and a second heating element wound around the second auxiliary heating section. Water flowed from the water tank to the first heating section via the cold-water supply section is first heated by the first heating element. The heated water is in turn flowed from the first heating section to the second auxiliary heating section via the first hot-water supply section for being further heated by the second heating element. Finally, the further heated water is fed to the second hot-water supply section prior to leaving the outlet. By utilizing the invention, a temperature of water leaving the outlet can be kept at an acceptable high level.

[0005] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional heating arrangement for a coffee maker;

[0007]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a double heating device mounted on a water pipe of coffee maker according to the invention;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled heating device and the water pipe of the FIG. 2; and

[0009]FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing a connection of the water pipe to a water tank with the heating device mounted along portions of the water pipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, there is shown an arrangement of an electric heating device for a coffee maker in accordance with the invention. As shown, a pipe connected to the bottom of a water tank 1 consisting of a cold-water supply section 2, a first heating section 4, a first hot-water supply section 5, a second auxiliary heating section 61, and a second hot-water supply section 7 having an outlet 71. The heating device comprises a first heating element 3 wound around a first heating section 4 and a second heating element 6 wound around the second auxiliary heating section 61. It is designed that water flowed from the water tank 1 to the first heating section 4 via the cold-water supply section 2 is first heated by the first heating element 3. The heated water is then flowed from the first heating section 4 to the second auxiliary heating section 61 via the first hot-water supply section 5 for being further heated by the second heating element 6. The further heated water is fed to the second hot-water supply section 7 prior to flowing into a container 8 via the outlet 71.

[0011] It is envisaged that a temperature of water leaving the outlet 71 can be kept at an acceptable high level. Also, a length of the pipe is not critically important since as needed, three or more heating elements may be installed along the pipe for keeping the temperature of water leaving the outlet 71 at an acceptable level.

[0012] While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A heating device for a coffee maker having a water tank and a water pipe coupled to the bottom of the water tank, the pipe including a cold-water supply section, a first heating section, a first hot-water supply section, a second auxiliary heating section, and a second hot-water supply section having an outlet, the heating device comprising: a first heating element wound around the first heating section; and a second heating element wound around the second auxiliary heating section; wherein water flowed from the water tank to the first heating section via the cold-water supply section is first heated by the first heating element, the heated water is in turn flowed from the first heating section to the second auxiliary heating section via the first hot-water supply section for being further heated by the second heating element, and the further heated water is fed to the second hot-water supply section prior to leaving the outlet. 